The shared national commitment to develop an independent national evidence institute is good news for schools and teachers, particularly those working in the most challenging circumstances and communities.

The NSRA outlines long-term strategic reforms to improve student outcomes across Australian schools. The reform principles build on the recommendations of the ‘Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools’ as well as others. The agreement sets out eight important reforms to be implemented over the next five years.

Reform 7 sets out the following:

Reform 7: An independent national evidence institute to inform teacher practice, system improvement and policy development. Establishment of an independent national evidence institute to undertake research on what works in improving school outcomes and the translation of this research into practical resources for use by schools and teachers.

Matthew Deeble, Director of Evidence for Learning said:

‘It is pleasing to see a clear commitment and pathway to an independent national evidence provider agreed, which is to be established during 2019 and operational in 2020.’

‘We look forward to the opportunity to supporting this collaboration and working with professional practitioners to see it is operational, and properly delivered with the right mechanisms by 2020.

'Most pleasing is this reform will help spread best practice and success across all of our schools which is especially important for the great educators who work in the most challenging circumstances and communities.’

As part of the agreement, States and territories are required to have a bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth that sets out state-specific actions to improve student outcomes. Bilateral agreements are currently in progress with States and Territories. These agreements include activities that support particular student cohorts such as students from a low-SES background. New South Wales and South Australia, both states with whom Evidence for Learning has worked with, have signed the bilateral agreement.